After first Tupton postponing the scheduled league fixture and then Ripley Rhinos not being able to play a Derbyshire Cup match, Melbourne eventually played host to Old Newtonians 2nd XV. 

Match Report

Following an early morning wade to check the pitch condition, Captain Barr decided that after last weeks defeat a game was imperative and even if players needed to wear waders and snorkels we would be playing.

Injuries and unavailability had forced changes this week with a welcome return to MRFC for Pete Birchall coming into the front row, and with youth being the policy of the season other changes included the sprightly Paul Macer and Ian Lucas coming into the back row and Melbourne’s very own Cliff Richards, Peter Ilott into the backs.

At kick off the sun was shining and a brisk breeze was blowing towards the car park, Melbourne opted to use the wind and kicked off the game with the ball going straight to the Old Newts big set of forwards. This seemed to be Old Newts best form of attack with them making good yards early on, the Melbourne defense held solid and it wasn’t long before the ball was turned over by Barr and Macer.

Devanny made some telling breaks at scrum half with the forwards in support to take the ball up into the O.N 22mtr. A good catch and drive from a lineout and Macer and Lucas driving over for the first score.

This seemed to spur Melbourne on and Euen started to take control in the backs and it wasn’t long before Melbourne crossed the try line again with Peter Birchall scoring on his debut.

Good play between forwards and backs produced a hat-full of tries before half time, try scorers included Euen (2), Foster (2), Judgey (1) and Lucas (1). I can’t remember how many of these were converted or if there were any penalties.

Just remembered that Old Newts kicked a penalty in the first half.

Half Time 40 (-50) : 3

Half Time saw the arrival of Mango’s, Jelly babies and Glucose sweets to replace the normal oranges. Oranges are apparently the sixth worst thing to eat at half time for energy boost behind

5: Pizza’s

4: Full English

3: Chicken Tikka Masala

2: Big Macs

1: Kebabs

With the wind now in our faces we waited for the large kick off only for a deft little Daisy Cutter to skip across the surface, this seemed to elude four Melbourne players and bobbled out of the hands of Captain Barr for a scrum to O.Newts in our own 22. After a couple of forward drives the play was switched to the blind for the smallest player on the pitch to stretch over for a try for Old Newtonians.

Melbourne refused to let this deter from their first half performance and with the sugar rush kicking in it wasn’t long before Euen skipped over for his 3rd of the afternoon.

I’m not sure of the exact sequence of second half tries but two of them spring to mind, the first being Will Judges catch in the lineout deep in our own half and scampering 60 yards like he was being chased by a pack of lions to score under the posts. The second was Dean’s run to the corner, with the face of a man in pain.

Further tries were scored through Ilott (1), Holden (1), Judge (1).

The final score was Melbourne 93 (ish): Old Newtonians 8

Thank you to Old Newts for the game, they never gave up all match and played the game in the right spirit. Next week returns to League matters with Belper at home.